DEALING WITH OUR MASONIC DESTINATIONS

“Obstacles are those frightful things you
see,” someone wrote, “when you take your eyes off your goals.”

One of the best, most efficient ways to stay
where you are or even go backward is to focus on the obstacles. They are
the distractions that keep us from becoming the best we can - both personally
and as a fraternity.

When you and I take a risk, we test ourselves.
When we decide to solve a problem, we face the possibility of failure.
When we step out to break new ground, we know the voices of the critics will be
raised. Safety is certain, at least for awhile, if we do nothing.

Yet, Masonry teaches us to be dissatisfied -
discontent - with the status quo. Freemasonry challenges us to reach for
the ideals of justice, brotherly love, and improvement - individually and as a
fraternity.

In its annual report to the Supreme Council in
September, the Committee on the General State of the Rite broke new ground.
While applauding our many successes, the committee urges us to set our eyes on
our destinations, our goals.

Race and ethnic groups. “This committee
carefully searched our constitutions and ritual,” the report reads, “finding
nothing to indicate that we should deprive membership in our fraternity to any
man because of race, color or creed.” Pointing out that this is indeed a
difficult subject, yet it is one “that has been avoided for too many years.”

The report continues, “It is the committee’s
opinion that unadmitted, residual racial bias hurts us, sapping our strength,
and depriving us of men with strong leadership ability.”

Although long overdue, the Supreme Council has
elected the first black member to receive the 33rd degree at our next
annual meeting. “In today’s society, we can no longer ‘stone-wall’ this
vital issue if we really intend to practice what we preach - brotherly love - in
this wonderful nation of people with many and diverse origins,” states the
committee report.

Sovereignty of the Grand Lodges. Noting
that the framers of our U.S. Constitution recognized that the survival of the
young nation depended on a balance of authority between the individual states
and a federal government, the committee indicates that “there is a lesson to be
learned” for our fraternity.

The committee has stepped forward with a call
for “some central governance group - a policy-setting body with executive power
to provide cohesive, coordinated management of the total Masonic fraternity.”

If we are to grow and if we are to meet the
challenges of today and those of the 21st century, we must have a
national approach for Freemasonry.

Penalties of the obligations and balloting.
“It is becoming increasingly apparent that thinking candidates are having
trouble giving honest assent to the current penalties contained in the
obligations,” reports the committee. “Oaths required deal with ‘ancient’
penalties which are obsolete, unbelievable, unacceptable and simply not relevant
in today’s society.”

Oaths taken anywhere on a Bible are not “symbolic.” Our
credibility as a fraternity suffers when we attempt to “explain away” our
ancient Masonic penalties. As a result, the committee urges all Bodies of
Freemasonry to commence an “orderly rewrite and substitution of the onerous
penalties in the various obligations of our order. “

Finally, the committee addressed the balloting issue.
“With our prevailing procedures of admitting new members only by unanimous,
favorable ballot, we leave too much room for private pique and spite, all of
which serves to deny true liberty and justice.” In order to rectify this
situation, the committee has called for the Supreme Council to amend its
Constitutions to require three negative votes to reject a candidate for all of
our degrees, and urges all Masonic Bodies to give this suggestion immediate
attention.”

For men whose eyes are on the goals, there are
no obstacles, just opportunities to lead the way. The committee report
received a standing ovation. Evidently, we are ready to move forward.

We may never achieve perfection, but we can
find more perfect ways for justice, brotherly love, and improvement to prevail
in Freemasonry - and the world. When you think about it, the only
frightful obstacle is our unwillingness to act on our Masonic ideals.